Trademark Property has been hired by UBS to manage the complex; the 2 firms will jointly determine what next steps to take with the property's management and further development. No specifics were included in the article.

Now, all that's left for the big "Midtown Dallas" masterplan redo of the consolidated properties to actually root, take hold and flourish is a name change. Everyone who tried to New Urbanist Mixed Use this stretch of LBJ over the last decade without folding the mall into the dealio was just whistling dixie.

"Ablon at Galleria Muse" is planned for the parking lot area north of Starbucks, The Container Store, and Z Gallerie (across Alpha from the mall). Called "Galleria North" when the original project was built several years ago, there have been many plans/changes since the original construction was completed, including a condo tower that didn't get going, and a Wyndham hotel that also didn't get past the drawing board. This current plan looks to be more walkable, with apartments, retail, and restaurants, as well as outdoor amenities like a fountain and an amphitheater. It is set for completion in 2020.

itsjrd1964 wrote:"Ablon at Galleria Muse" is planned for the parking lot area north of Starbucks, The Container Store, and Z Gallerie (across Alpha from the mall). Called "Galleria North" when the original project was built several years ago, there have been many plans/changes since the original construction was completed, including a condo tower that didn't get going, and a Wyndham hotel that also didn't get past the drawing board. This current plan looks to be more walkable, with apartments, retail, and restaurants, as well as outdoor amenities like a fountain and an amphitheater. It is set for completion in 2020.

This is somewhat interesting to me on a few fronts:- It continues the trend of apartment development that's happening in that sliver between the Tollway and Monfort that isn't related to "Midtown"- I wonder if it will be more vibrant than the mixed-use center across Noel, which is also sorta walkable but not really that busy- It would be awesome if this development somehow connected (walkability-wise) to what's going on on the other side of the Tollway on the site of the old Sears Outlet. Might be a bit of a stretch to connect the two, but just a thought.

itsjrd1964 wrote:"Ablon at Galleria Muse" is planned for the parking lot area north of Starbucks, The Container Store, and Z Gallerie (across Alpha from the mall). Called "Galleria North" when the original project was built several years ago, there have been many plans/changes since the original construction was completed, including a condo tower that didn't get going, and a Wyndham hotel that also didn't get past the drawing board. This current plan looks to be more walkable, with apartments, retail, and restaurants, as well as outdoor amenities like a fountain and an amphitheater. It is set for completion in 2020.

Thank you! I was going to say the same! I wonder sometimes, if some of these project planners ever bounce names off of colleagues/co-workers, or they just come up with something for a name, and we/everybody will like it no matter what. It's almost like that Canadian project that didn't go anywhere at Turtle Creek/Fairmount, "Ltd Edition No. 2505". Still shaking my head at that one.

No, you're thinking of the Toyota Avalon. Ablon is a poetic or literary term for Britain or England.

I thought Ablon was a like mythical magic lion, who helps good children find their way. Probably British.

Kinda hard to believe that at last the Galleria area is really starting to evolve. Whatever will happen to Midtown ownership, but I guess everything the Plano Future shock-club is soothsaying will be happening in North Dallas, finally.

I am so glad to see this area finally get some new urban development. especially since the Midtown development is stuck in lawsuits. I would love to see this entire area become dense and fully developed out.

1) Morphe is open in the old Tourneau space2) True Religion is open in the old Monsoon space3) Bullzerk is open on the 3rd floor3) A very large space is consolidated on the first floor and said to be a huge Apple store

Wow, sounds like some expensive drama involving the Eastern District Court of Texas and Apple has forced them to make a tough choice here. Dallas County wins as a result. I wonder if Apple is looking at other locations in DFW to make up for the closure of Plano and Frisco. Maybe Las Colinas or Downtown Dallas?

Matt777 wrote:I wonder if Apple is looking at other locations in DFW to make up for the closure of Plano and Frisco. Maybe Las Colinas or Downtown Dallas?

I feel like the aesthetic of their stores and products would be a perfect fit for the Arts District. I have no idea if a location there would make the most business sense, but it would look pretty damn cool there (as long as it's not too overpowering and doesn't take away from the current beauty of the area).

Matt777 wrote:I wonder if Apple is looking at other locations in DFW to make up for the closure of Plano and Frisco. Maybe Las Colinas or Downtown Dallas?

I feel like the aesthetic of their stores and products would be a perfect fit for the Arts District. I have no idea if a location there would make the most business sense, but it would look pretty damn cool there (as long as it's not too overpowering and doesn't take away from the current beauty of the area).

They are going to have to get some pedestrian traffic down there before any kind of retail will consider going down there. The Arts District is a ghost town except for the few hours when they are having events. Even then, it is just people going from their cars to the shows and back to their cars.

FWIW I agree with jbarn; I had a West Coast friend visit Dallas for the first time on a Sunday and they were shocked how automobile-oriented and empty the Arts District is. For what it's (fort) worth, the "consumer cultural vibe" Apple Store is already in space north of TCU toward the Kimbell.

When the Arts District is regarded as park with great museums and performance venues, then it'll be a place to walk around instead of drive thru. I'm surprise this has not already happened; that deck park is totally popular, bringing tons of people to the area. The obvious next step IS NOT expanding with a garage suspended over the highway, it's uniting with the public space between DMA, Nasher, Opera House, Symphony House, The Best Public High School in the country, unfinished city performance hall and the highrise performance theater.

They won't build another Apple store the Galleria store will be big like NorthPark. Keep in mind they just renovated the Willow Bend store so they are obviously making a hard and or public message by closing two obviously profitable stores. This tells us also why a West Legacy or Frisco Star store was never an option either.

For Downtown to get an Apple store the number of rooftops South, East, and West of Downtown would have to be a lot larger than they are today. Apple is not a company that builds stores for charity or just because. They want solid demographics and Uptown isn't enough for Apple. For Apple to build a store they need Deep Ellum, Cedars, Design District, South Side, Victory, Henderson all to be churning out residential and office workers at a steady pace. The truth is Downtown is still just a trophy but not an epicenter of Dallas commerce and living. Right now those areas have all seen marginal improvements compared to Apple's standards.

Construction ramps up near Dallas' Galleria with high-rise hotel project

Just north of the mall on Noel Road, "Plüsh Suites" (yes, apparently with the "ü") is planned with 300 rooms, 12 stories tall, with completion seen by mid-2020. It will be on a previously-vacant lot at Noel/Southern Blvd. A PlushSuites.com web address is shown on their Facebook site, but it redirects to the Facebook site for now. One photo caption on the Facebook site describes the property as their "first" hotel. Not sure how many more "they" want to do, or who "they" are. Another know-it-when-I-see-it project, IMO, and I wonder how long it will last with this branding before someone re-flags it later on with a more familiar/established brand.